Reply to Options for child who aced Geometry but is struggling in Algebra 2

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Reply to "Options for child who aced Geometry but is struggling in Algebra 2"

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[quote=pettifogger][quote=Anonymous]I think that PP was saying that on timed tests things go faster if you have certain things memorized. I don't have a math degree but I do have a degree in a related field and I used to be one of those kids who would derive things on every test and would often run out of time.

I am worried my child is starting to go down a similar route and have emphasized trying to explicitly memorize those formulas.

A very simple example would be that if you memorize the two point slope formula you wouldn't have to take the time to solve a set of simultaneous equations or if you remembered how to factor the difference of squares you could spend your time on other more complicated parts of a problem.

It's like multiplication. Sure I don't need to memorize it really but it make things go a lot faster.

[/quote]
Sure, memorization is fine when studying for the types of tests given in K12. The reason for that is because most, or all of the problems on tests and quizzes are amenable to memorization (as long as students remember formulas along with recipes for solving a set of standard problems, they are likely to do very well on most tests). But this highlights a few major problems with education: 1) In the real world, and at work, nobody cares whether one memorizes or not. A problem exists, and whoever can come up with a good solution for it gets rewarded. In that sense students are effectively wasting precious formative years 'learning' but not understanding. 2) Students graduate high school, many going on to top ranked colleges, and potentially becoming leaders in the workforce, yet they believe that learning is nothing more than just 'absorbing' information and spitting it back out on tests. They are 'A' students, yet it's quite possible they've learned almost nothing from school despite going through all the steps in the current process. Some luckily correct in college, often when they get their first initial shock of 30% on an exam and realize their method of studying isn't the same as learning. Others may never know what it means to understand; e.g to be able to explain something in simple and logical terms to their kids, or to others around them. And sadly, there are some who realize that while they may be capable of thinking, it is far too inconvenient and much easier to get others to do that hard work.[/quote]

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